Lieutenant Colonel Joseph M. Russell enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in May 2004 from Cleveland, Ohio. He commissioned in May 2008 after earning a Bachelor of Arts in Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs from Miami University. He completed The Basic School in May 2009 and graduated from the Basic Communications Officer Course in December 2009.
His operational assignments include service with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines and 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, where he served as a communications platoon commander and battalion S-6A. He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the 215th Corps Afghan National Army Advisor Team from 2011 to 2012 and later served as the S-6 for 1st Battalion, 11th Marines. From 2014 to 2015, he deployed to Liberia in support of Operation Onward Liberty, serving as the J6 and Public Affairs Advisor to the Armed Forces of Liberia. He also served with III Marine Expeditionary Force as the Korean Theater and Southeast Asia Planner and as the MEF Network Operations Officer. More recently, he served as Operations Officer and Executive Officer for 8th Communication Battalion and deployed in support of Nordic Response 2024. He subsequently deployed with 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade as part of Combined Task Force 61.2, alongside the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Following that deployment, he served with II Marine Expeditionary Force G-6.
His other assignments include duty at Manpower and Reserve Affairs as the Information Assurance Officer and with Marine Corps Cyberspace Operations Group as the DODIN Operations Officer. He is a graduate of the Expeditionary Warfare School and Marine Corps Command and Staff College and holds a Master of Arts in Military Studies. He is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
Lieutenant Colonel Russell was selected for command and reported to 6th Communication Battalion, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Forces Reserve in Brooklyn, New York, to serve as the Inspector-Instructor and Site Commander effective June 14, 2025.
His personal decorations include four Meritorious Service Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.